CDC Releases New Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements Guide for Small and Critical Access Hospitals

Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements at Small and Critical Access Hospitals | Get Smart for Healthcare | CDC

New Core Elements resource provides support, flexible stewardship framework for small and Critical Access Hospitals

CDC has just released a new resource for small and Critical Access Hospitals that was guided by providers in these settings and is designed to address their unique challenges. The Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Core Elements at Small and Critical Access Hospitals uses the CDC Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs as a framework for initiating and/or expanding antibiotic stewardship activities.

CDC and partners met with hospital representatives to get their feedback, gain a more in-depth understanding of the challenges, and develop resources uniquely tailored to their setting and the patients they serve. CDC partnered with The Pew Charitable Trusts, The American Hospital Association, and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to develop the resource in an effort to improve antibiotic prescribing and use, protect patients, and reduce the threat of antibiotic-resistant infections like C. difficile.

CDC developed the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship to help healthcare facility leaders and providers implement stewardship activities in their facilities. The new resource is the fourth addition to the Core Elements series that provides recommendations for antibiotic stewardship programs and practices in hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient facilities.

Partner Spotlight: Check out CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog to learn how Southwest Health System (a critical access hospital) successfully implemented CDC’s Core Elements for Antibiotic Stewardship.